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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

eat bowl face turn bowl down

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to betraying someone after receiving some offer or advantage from them. (食碗面反碗底)

Usage: E.g. I gave you so many benefits and you eat bowl face turn bowl down?!!

Synonym: 食碗面反碗底

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/images/methode/2016/01/21/c10168a8-bff3-11e5-9503-d84cbca18933_486x.jpg?itok=sF-XAnJn

del

Definition: Pronounced as 'dee', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers to refer to using the 'delete' button on a keyboard to get rid of something when using the computer.

Usage: E.g. Del左呢個paragraph,再加返個conclusion,然後再send比我啦。

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

touchwood

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers say in order to avoid bad luck, which is similar to '大吉利是' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Touchwood講句,如果件貨聽日唔準時到,請問要等到幾時呢?

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/733616/page/1

pose

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a physical position that a person arranges and fixates in order to be photographed, which is often more difficult that it seems.

Usage: E.g. 自拍唔洗愁擺pose!10大熱門韓星IG影相手勢整理 (No need to worry about posing for selfies anymore! Here is a compilation of top 10 popular Korean stars IG photo gestures)

Synonym: 姿势

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/60213634/自拍唔洗愁擺pose-10大熱門韓星ig影相手勢整理-跟住影相零失誤

cc

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to sending a copy of an email message to another recipient.

Usage: E.g. 份email記住cc埋比所有人。

Synonym: 抄送

share

Definition: Often used together with ‘開心’ meaning happy, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to experiencing something with others, which means the sharing must very likely be happy or joyful unless it is omitted or stated otherwise.

Usage: E.g. 喂,我同你哋開心Share,呢個笑話太好笑啦 (Hey, I'm happy to share with you all. This joke is too funny!)

Synonym: 分享

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ_3EOyTfSy/ (use mobile version)

pass

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use instead of '通過'.  Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'pass-si'.

Usage: E.g. 今次考試pa唔pass呀? E.g. 我今次pass-si呀!仲好高分添!

Synonym: 通過

Reference: https://www.studocu.com/hk/document/city-university-of-hong-kong/world-englishes/lecture-3-city-university-of-hong-kongen5714-world-englishes-and-the-social-context-of/20063922

proposal

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used in the workplace environment of Hong Kong to refer to a proposal document.

Usage: E.g. 老細叫你打嗰份proposal打完未呀?E.g. 今次份proposal太短喇,又唔夠detail。再打過啦。

Synonym: 計劃書

short

Definition: (adj.) insane; malfunctioning; derived from "short circuit". Often used as "sot sot deih", meaning a little insane.

Usage: E.g. 你契爺凍到short咗. (Your godfather is freezing to the point of insanity.) E.g. 部冷氣機short左。快D搵人黎整返佢啦。

Ho

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that is used as an adverb to emphasize the intensity of an adjective, which is similar to ‘very’ in English.

Usage: E.g. Ho ging ah! (Very powerful) E.g. Ho ying ah! (Very good looking) E.g. Ho jeng ah! (Very good or awesome) E.g. Ho ho may! (Very delicious)

Synonym: 好

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520“hou%2520ging,jeng”%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

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